TCT 

320 


Reynolds  Smoke -Consuming 
Brick  Furnaces 

By 
'lam  H,  Bryan 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT   LOS  ANGELES 


SCIENTIFIC  TESTS 


Reynolds  Smoke-Consuming 
Brick  Furnaces 


The   Omaha   Water  Company's  Plant,  at  Florence,  Neb., 
September  isth,   1894, 


WILLIAM   H.    BRYAN, 

Consulting  Engineer,  of  St.  Louis.  Mo. 


AMKKICAN  PUBLISHING  Co.,  PRINTKRS  AND  BOOK-BINDKHS, 
OMAHA,  NKB. 


3X0 


REYNOLDS 

Smoke  Consuming  Brick  Furnaces 

SCIENTIFICALLY     TESTED 

AT   THE 

Omaha  Water  Company's  Plant, 

FLORENCE,  NEB., 
September    15tli,    1894, 

BY 

WILLIAM  H.  BRYAN 

Consulting    Engineer, 
OF     ST.    LOUIS,    MISSOURI. 


Simple,  Effective,  Durable. 


As  thorough   Smoke  Consumers  with    marvelous  Steam-Pro- 
ducing   Powers,   by    using    the    cheapest    grades   of    coal,    THE 

REYNOLDS  SMOKELESS  FURNACES  are  the 

cheapest  and  the   best. 


(Ko  Model.) 


2  Sheets -Sheet  1. 


F.  REYNOLDS. 

SMOKE  CONSUMING  STEAM  BOILER  FURNACE, 

No.  486,167.  Patented  Nov.  15,  1892, 


—3 


(No  Model.) 


2  Sheets— Sheet  2. 


F.  REYNOLDS. 

SMOKE  CONSUMING  STEAM  BOILER  FURNACE, 

No,  486,167.  Patented  NOT.  15,  1892, 


4— 


Reynolds 


THE  UNITED  STATES  PATENT  OFFICE. 

FRANK    REYNOLDS,    OF    OMAHA,    NEB.,    ASSIGNOR    OF    ONE-HALF 
TO  ALONZO  B.  HUNT,  OF  SAME  PLACE. 


SPECIFICATION  forming-  part  of  Letters  Patent  No.  486,167.  dated  November 
IS,  1892.     Application  filed  August  29,  1891.     Serial  No.  40^,151. 


TO  ALL  WHOM  IT  MAY  CONCERN: 

Be  it  known  that  I,  FRANK  REYNOLDS,  of  Omaha,  in  the 
County  of  Douglas  and  State  of  Nebraska,  have  invented  certain 
useful  Improvements  in  Smoke-Consuming  Fteam-Boiler  Fur- 
naces; and  I  do  hereby  declare  that  the  following  is  a  full,  clear 
and  exact  description  of  the  invention,  such  as  will  enable  others 
skilled  in  the  art  to  which  it  appertains  to  make  and  use  the 
same,  reference  being  had  to  the  accompanying  drawings,  which 
form  a  part  of  this  specification. 

This  invention  has  relation  to  new  and  novel  smoke-con- 
suming steam-boiler  furnaces. 

The  object  of  this  invention  is  to  provide  a  steam-boiler  fur- 
nace wherein  the  smoke  may  be  consumed  before  leaving  the 
furnace,  as  will  be  described  more  fully  hereinafter,  and  finally 
pointed  out  in  the  claims. 

In  the  accompanying  drawings  Figure  i  shows  a  front  view 
of  a  horizontal  steam-boiler  furnace;  Fig.  2,  a  transverse  sec- 
tional view  through  the  combustion-chamber  Fig.  3  shows  a 
longitudinal  section  elevation;  Fig.  4  shows  sectional  elevation 
of  an  upright  furnace  embodying  my  invention,  and  Fig.  5  a 
horizontal  sectional  view  thereof. 

Similar  letters  of  reference  refer  to  corresponding  parts. 

"A"  represents  a  steam-boiler  furnace  of  any  suitable  dimen- 
sion, constructed  of  fire-brick  or  any  other  suitable  material, 
comprising  the  combustion-chamber  B,  the  intermediate  cham- 
ber C,  and  the  furnace  D,  as  clearly  shown  in  Figs.  3  and  4. 

The  combustion-chamber  B  is  provided  with  the  grate-bars 
B,  and  is  in  communication  with  the  flue  or  intermediate  cham- 
ber C.  The  walls  of  the  chamber  are  built  in  two  parts,  so  as  to 
provide  the  air-pocket,  as  shown.  This  pocket  comprises  the 
independent  vertical  flues  E  K — one  upon  each  side — and  the 
top  horizontal  flue  E',  which  communicates  at  the  rear  with  two 

.'57943.'* 


6 

side  flues  K  E,  descending  in  front  by  means  of  a  narrow  verti- 
cal flue  F,  leading  into  the  combustion-chamber  B,  as  shown  by 
the  outlet-opening  marked  F'.  The  rear  wall  A'  within  the 
chamber  B  terminates  a  suitable  distance  below  the  top  of  the 
chamber,  so  as  to  leave  a  contracted  opening  communicating 
with  intermediate  chamber  C. 

The  intermediate  chamber  C  forms  properly  a  part  of  the 
main  combustion-chamber  D,  and  is  provided  at  a  point  near 
the  wall  A'  with  a  transverse,  downwardly-extending,  deflecting 
wall  C',  which  ends  approximately  on  a  line  with  the  wall  A',  as 
illustrated  in  Fig.  3.  At  the  rear  the  intermediate  chamber  C  is 
provided  with  an  arch  A",  having  a  suitable  number  of  open- 
ings, which  starts  from  the  wall  C"  and  curves  forward  toward 
and  against  the  wall  C'. 

The  fTirnace  D  is  of  suitable  masonry,  within  the  upper  por- 
tion of  which  rests  the  boiler  H  in  communication  at  the  rear 
with  the  furnace,  as  illustrated.  The  walls  of  the  furnace  are 
also  provided  with  an  interior  air  space  or  pocket  running  the 
full  length  of  the  wall  until  a  point  at  the  forward  end  \vhere  the 
space  is  contracted,  so  as  to  lead  into  the  transverse  wall  A1  and 
ending  at  the  opening  C'",  leading  into  the  chamber  C,as  shown 
in  dotted  lines  in  Fig.  3.  The  furnace  is  built  so  as  to  decrease 
in  capacity  as  it  nears  the  rear  wall,  so  that  the  heat  is  focused 
or  crowded  before  leaving  or  entering  the  boiler,  as  will  be 
understood  by  referring  to  Fig.  3.  The  openings  within  the 
arch  A"  offer  a  means  of  communication  between  the  chamber 
C  and  the  furnace  D.  At  the  rear  I  provide  an  opening  H', 
covered  by  means  of  a  suitable  slide,  so  as  to  offer  open-air  com- 
munication with  the  chamber  C.  In  Fig.  3  I  have  shown  by 
means  of  an  arrow  the  entrance  of  the  air  and  at  C"'  its  exit. 
In  front  I  provide  a  slide-covered  opening  E",  by  means  of 
which  the  air  enters  the  space  surrounding  the  combustion- 
chamber,  making  its  escape  at  the  point  marked  F'. 

All  the  masonry  is  of  the  best  fire-brick,  and  when  the  fur- 
nace has  been  constructed  according  to  my  description  the  opera- 
tion of  my  device  is  as  follows:  The  heat  from  the  burning  fuel 
within  the  combustion-chamber  passes  first  into  the  intermediate 
chamber  C,  and  then  through  the  openings  within  the  arch  A" 
into  the  furnace  D,  escaping  through  the  boiler  into  the  chimney. 
As  the  combustion-chamber  becomes  warmer,  the  air  within  the 
wall  space  becomes  expanded  and  heated  and  escapes  into  the 
fire-box  or  combustion-chamber,  materially  aiding  the  combus- 
tion. The  air  within  the  walls  of  the  furnace  escapes  into  the 
intermediate  chamber  C,  intensifying  the  heat  to  such  a  degree 
that  the  smoke  particles  are  practically  consumed,  the  smoke 
passing  off  in  vapors  devoid  of  any  floating  particles,  making  the 
furnace  a  smoke-consuming  device,  and  thus  fulfilling  the  aim 
and  object  of  this  invention. 


Iii  Figs.  4, and  5  I  have  shown,  respectively,  a  vertical  sec- 
tional elevation  and  a  transverse  sectional  view  of  my  smoke- 
consuming  furnace  as  arranged  for  a  vertical  boiler. 

As  in  the  arrangement  of  the  horizontal  device,  I  divide  the 
furnace  into  the  combustion-chamber  B.  the  intermediate  cham- 
ber C,  and  the  furnace  I),  running  to  a  focus  at  the  upper  end 
immediately  below  the  boiler  H. 

In  the  arrangement  of  the  furnace  for  the  vertical  boiler  the 
curved  wall  is  eliminated,  the  heat  being  directed  against  the 
depending  wall  C',  and  then  entering  directly  into  the  furnace 
D.  To  facilitate  cleaning  the  furnace,  I  provide  the  opening  K, 
closed  by  means  of  a  suitable  door. 

The  operation  is  as  in  the  preceding  case — the  air  entering 
by  means  of  the  openings  E,  thence  into  the  horizontal  pocket 
E',  down  the  vertical  flue  E",  and  out  at  F,  in  the  rear,  enter- 
ing at  the  opening  marked  H',  circulating  about  the  vertical  way 
H,  and  out  at  C'",  leading  into  the  furnace,  as  shown  in  Figs. 
4  and  5. 

The  device  is  exceedingly  simple  of  construction,  efficient, 
and  readily  operated.  The  air  within  the  wall  spaces  or  pockets 
is  converted  by  the  great  heat  into  inflammable  gases,  and  as 
such  enter  both  the  combustion-chamber  and  furnace,  and  thus 
assist  in  intensifying  the  heat,  thereby  raising  it  to  siich  a  degree 
that  the  floating  products  of  combustion  are  disintegrated,  leav- 
ing the  chimney  in  the  form  of  smokeless  vapors. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  by  my  arrangement  of  the  instrumen- 
talities the  heat  in  leaving  the  combustion-chamber  is  crowded 
or  focused  into  a  smaller  chamber,  into  which  there  is  a  contin- 
ued flow  of  combustible  vapors.  From  this  chamber  the  heat  is 
permitted  to  enter  the  furnace  of  greater  capacity  than  the  inter- 
mediate chamber,  the  outlet  of  this  furnace  being  again  con- 
tracted, so  that  the  heat  is  again  crowded  in  leaving,  as  illus- 
trated in  the  several  figures. 

Having  thus  described  my  invention  and  the  best  method  I 
know  of  operating  the  same,  what  I  claim  as  new,  and  de  :re  to 
secure  by  United  States  Letters  Patent,  is — 

i.  In  a  boiler-furnace,  the  arrangement  of  a  fuel -chamber 
provided  with  independent  vertical  flues  upon  the  sides  and  com- 
municating at  the  rear  with  a  horizontal  top  flue  and  in  front 
with  a  vertical  flue  leading  into  said  fuel-chamber,  the  rear  wall 
of  said  chamber  terminating  a  suitable  distance  bejow  the  top,  a 
communicating  intermediate  chamber  of  smaller  capacity  than 
said  fuel-chamber  and  provided  at  a  point  near  said  rear  wall 
with  a  transverse  downwardly  extending  deflecting- wall  and  an 
arch  having  a  number  of  openings  leading  into  a  furnace,  and 
open-air  flues  surrounding  said  furnace  and  leading  into  said  in- 
termediate chamber,  said  furnace  decreasing  in  capacity  at  the 
rear,  so  that  the  heat  is  focused  or  crowded  before  entering  the 
boiler-flues,  all  substantially  as  and  for  the  purpose  set  forth. 


2.  In  a  boiler-furnace,  the  combination  of  the  fuel-chamber 
B,  provided  with  the  flues  K  K,  E'  and  F,  leading  into  said 
chamber,  the  wall  A,'  the  chamber  C,  provided  with  the  deflect - 
ing-wall  C'  and  arch  A",  walls  C'  and  C",  and  the  furnace  D, 
provided  with  an  open-air  pocket  leading  into  the  wall  A'  and 
escaping  into  the  chamber  C,  all  arranged  so  that  the  heat  in 
leaving  the  fuel-chamber  is  focused  into  the  smaller  chamber  C, 
and  from  this  into  the  furnace  D  of  greater  capacity,  the  outlet 
of  this  furnace  being  contracted  so  that  the  heat  is  again  focused 
in  leaving,  all  substantially  as  and  for  the  purpose  set  forth. 

In  testimony  whereof  I  affix  my  signature  in  presence  of 
two  witnesses.  .  FRANK  REYNOLDS. 

Witnesses: 

0.  W.  SUES, 
A.  B.  HUNT. 


REYNOLDS  SMOKE-CONSUMING  STEAM-BOILER  FURNACES 


The  following-  Report  and  Resolutions  of  the  American  National  Associa- 
tion of  Engineers  appeared  in  the  Omaha  Daily  Hee,  Sali:nlay.  May 
20th,  1893: 

ENDORSED  BY  THE  ENGINEERS. 


Reynolds   Smoke   Consumer  Tested.- Forty  Members  of  ihe   Engineering   Fraternity 

Examine  the  Plant  at  the  Water- Works  and  Endorss 

the  Smoke-Consuming  Appliance. 


An  invitation  was  extended  to  the  engineers  of  Omaha  to 
visit  the  water- works  on  Sunday  afternoon,  May  14,  and  in  re- 
sponse forty  of  Omaha's  best  engine-runners  assembled  at  the 
lodge-rooms  of  the  National  Association  at  1:30  o'clock.  The 
party  consisted  of  representatives  of  the  National  Association, 
American  Order,  and  engineers  not  connected  with  either  organi- 
zation. The  invitation  was  extended  by  the  Reynolds  Smoke- 
Consuming  Furnace  Company,  for  the  purpose  of  investigating 
the  workings  of  their  patented  principle  of  smoke  consuming. 

Owing  to  the  recent  action  of  the  City  Council  in  adopting 
a  smoke-nuisance  ordinance,  the  question  is  now  a  living  one 
here,  and  all  engineers  are  interested.  The  water- works  are 
situated  at  Florence,  five  miles  from  Omaha,  and  the  engineers 
were  conducted  thither  in  carriages,  headed  by  an  elegant  tallyho 
coach  drawn  by  six  black  horses.  The  ride  was  most  delightful, 
and  thoroughly  enjoyed  by  the  participants.  Upon  arrival  at 
their  destination,  Captain  Reynolds  received  his  guests  with  a 
hearty  handshake  and  cordial  welcome. 


9 

Right  here  a  brief  mention  of  this  unusually  fine  plant  will 
not  be  out  of  order,  as  Omaha's  water-works  are  said  vto  .be  the 
finest  in  the  country.  The  grounds  encompass  eighty-seven 
acres,  including  the  basins,  of  which  there  are  seven,  each  over- 
flowing into  the  next,  thus  causing  the  chocolate-colored  waters, 
of  the  Big  Muddy  to  bear  a  close  resemblance  to  clear  drinking- 
water  by  the  time  it  has  arrived  at  the  wells,  from  whence  it  is 
pumped  into  the  mains.  The  engine-house  is  a  gray  sandstone 
structure,  100  feet  square,  of  a  Greek  style  of  architecture,  with 
entrances  on  the  north  and  south  sides.  Large,  well-kept  lawns 
and  beautifully  arranged  beds  of  flowers  tend  to  adorn  the  prem- 
ises. The  boiler-rooms  form  an  L  on  the  west  of  the  main  build- 
ing, 50  by  125  feet,  containing  eleven  vertical  boilers  of  225- 
horse  power  each.  At  the  time  of  the  visit  eight  boilers  were  in 
operation,  fired  with  the  cheapest  Iowa  slack  coal,  and  from  the 
stack  came  only  a  light  blue  vapor,  with  absolutely  no  black 
smoke.  These  boilers  were  generating  steam  for  the  E  P.  Allis 
low -service  pumps,  with  steam  cylinders  25x36  high  pressure 
and  47x36  low  pressure;  capacity,  14,000,000  gallons  each  per 
twenty-four  hours;  also  one  E.  P.  Allis  triple  expansion  high- 
service  pump,  with  high-pressure  cylinder  40  inches  in  diameter, 
intermediate  70  inches,  low  pressure  104  inches,  all  of  6o-inch 
stroke;  crank  set  at  an  angle  of  120  degrees;  capacity,  i8,ooo,.ooo 
gallons  per  twenty-four  hours.  Thus  about  i2OO-horse  power  of 
work  was  being  done  at  the  time  of  the  visit. 

This  almost  miraculous  result  was  accomplished  by  the 
Reynolds  Smoke-Consuming  Furnace,  built  on  the  following 
principle:  The  furnace  is  built  in  front  of  the  boiler,  where 
space  in  the  boiler-room  permits.  It  is  built  with  a  fire-brick 
arch  thirty-six  inches  above  the  grates,  with  another  arch  sprung 
down  back  of  the  bridge  wall,  thus  choking  the  space  equal  to 
the  area  of  the  flues,  allowing  the  gases  to  expand  in  the  com- 
bustion-chamber, where  the  heated  air  commingles  with  them 
and  the  oxygen  completes  the  work  of  combustion.  It  then 
passes  through  a  perforated  arch  built  of  the  best  fire-brick. 
Here  again  the  space  is  contracted  to  the  area  of  the  flues,  the 
perforations  being  the  thickness  of  the  fire-brick.  To  the  rear 
of  the  perforated  arch  the  chamber  directly  underneath  the  boiler 
has  a  pavement  slanting  upward  toward  the  end  at  an  angle  of 
about  thirty  degrees.  Wings  at  the  rear  end  of  the  boiler  on 
each  side  direct  the  course  of  the  heat  downwards,  thus  giving 
the  lower  flues  an  equal  amount  of  heat  with  the  upper  flues. 

This  elaborate  plant  is  under  the  management  of  Captain 
Frank  Reynolds,  mechanical  and  consulting  engineer  of  the 
American  Water- Works  System. 

After  indulging  in  several  hours'  examination  of  the  craft, 
they  returned  to  the  city,  well  satisfied  with  the  knowledge  they 
had  gained  and  equally  well  pleased  with  their  entertainment 


10 

and  ride.  Upon  arriving  home  a  committee  was  appointed, 
consisting  of  Messrs.  Walter  B.  Stark,  T.  J.  Collins,  C.  Souden- 
burg,  H.  A.  Seymour  and  G.  Cahow,  to  draft  resolutions  of 
approbation  and  thanks.  The  following  is  the  result  of  their 
labors: 

WHEREAS,  Through  the  courtesy  of  the  management  of  the 
Reynolds  Smoke-Consuming  Furnace  Company  we,  the  engi- 
neers of  the  City  of  Omaha,  have  been  given  a  most  excellent 
opportunity  to  make  a  thorough  investigation  of  the  principles 
of  their  invention;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  full}7  appreciate  and  cordially  endorse 
the  Reynolds  Smoke-Consuming  Furnace  as  the  most  practical 
and  economical  that  has  been  brought  to  our  notice  either  indi- 
vidually or  as  a  body. 

Resolved,  That  the  most  severe  tests  we  could  apply  re- 
sulted in  as  near  a  perfect  combustion  as  could  be  desired  by  the 
most  critical  city  father. 

Resolved,  That  the  hearty  thanks  of  all  present  be  extended 
to  Captain  Frank  Reynolds,  chief  engineer  of  the  Omaha  Water- 
Works;  Mr.  A.  B.  Hunt,  superintendent  of  the  Omaha  Water- 
WTorks,  and  Mr.  M.  H.  Collins,  secretary  of  the  Reynolds  Smoke- 
Consuming  Furnace  Company,  for  the  delightful  drive  and 
generous  hospitality  while  their  guests  on  Sunday  afternoon, 
May  14,  1893. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  forwarded  The 
Power  and  the  Weekly  Stationary  Engineer  for  publication. 

W.  B.  STARK, 
T.  J.  COLLINS, 

C.  SOUDENBURG, 

H.  A.  SEYMOUR, 
FRANK  ALEXANDER, 
CHARLES  E.  WEEKS, 
JOE  WELZENBAUGH, 

Committee. 


TESTIMONIALS. 

SOUTH  OMAHA,  NEBR,  April  28th,  1894. 
To  WHOM  IT  MAY  CONCERN: 

I  have  personally  examined  the   furnaces  now 

being-  used  at  the  Omaha  Water-Works,  of  which  Mr.  Frank  Reynolds  is  the 
inventor,  and  have  decided  to  put  them  in  under  our  twenty-seven  boilers, 
as,  in  my  judgment,  lifter  having-  examined  all  the  devices  that  are  now  in 
use  and  are  offered  on  the  market,  I  consider  that  the  Reynolds  Furnace  is 
by  far  the  most  durable  and  economical.  Yours  truly, 

THE  CTTDAHY  PACKING  COMPANY, 

MICHAEL  CUDAHV,  President. 


11 

OMAHA,  NEBRASKA,  Dec.  9th,  1893. 

REYNOLDS  FUKNACE  COMPANY, 

Gents:     Replying-   to  3rour  inquiry  as  to  our 

opinion  of  the  qualities  of  your  smoke-consuming-  furnace,  which  was  placed 
in  the  Telephone  Company  building-  during  last  summer,  I  take  pleasure  in 
saying-  that  it  is  giving-  good  satisfaction,  and  is  as  near  a  perfect  smoke- 
consumer  as  any  I  have  seen.  Respectfully, 

C.  E.  YOST,  President. 

OMAHA,  NEBRASKA,  Nov.  18th,  1893. 
To  WHOM  IT  MAY  CONCERN: 

After  a  thorough  examination  of  the  Reynolds 

Smoke  Consumer,  and  having  placed  it  in  the  plant  of  Mr.  J.  A.  Creighton, 
I  ,im  satisfied  it  is  the  most  practical  and  perfect  of  any  yet  seen,  and  would 
not  hesitate  to  place  it  in  any  plant  in  preference  to  anything  I  know  of. 

Very  respectfully, 

JAMES  CREIGHTON, 
Ex-Chairman  of  Board  of  Public  Works,  Omaha,  Neb. 

DENVER,  COLORADO,  Feb.  17th,  1894. 
A.  B.  HUNT,  Esq., 

Supt.  American  Water-Works  Co.,  Omaha,  Nebr. 
My  Dear  Sir: 

In  reply  to  your  recent  letter  inquiring  about  the  Reynolds 
Furnace  Boiler  setting  placed  at  our  works  some  years  ago,  would  say: 

It  has  been  in  use  since  1891,  and  we  have  had  no  expense  whatever  for 
repairs,  and  it  has  been  the  most  economical  boiler 'setting  we  have  ever 
known;  little  or  no  smoke  coming  out  of  the  smoke-stack  at  any  time  during 
the  use  of  these  boilers.  I  can  highly  recommend  them  as  the  most  econom- 
ical and  efficient  boiler  setting  furnace  on  the  market  to-day. 

Very  truly  yours, 

D.  G.  THOMAS, 
Supt.  of  the  American  Water- Works  Co. 

OMAHA,  NEBRASKA,  Dec.  9th,  1893. 
THE  REYNOLDS  SMOKE-CONSUMING  FURNACE  Co., 

Omaha,  Nebr. 

Gentlemen:  This  company  has  eighteen  boilers  with  the  setting,  your 
patent,  in  use  five  years.  They  are  now  and  have  been  running  on  slack 
coal,  with  a  high  degree  of  economy  and  absence  of  smoke,  and  are  very 
satisfactory  in  every  way.  Very  respectfully, 

ELL/IS  L.  BIERBOWER, 

Receiver. 

OMAHA,  NEBRASKA,  Nov.  21st,  1893. 
REYNOLDS  FURNACE  Co.,  Omaha,  Nebr. 

Gentlemen:  Your  favor  of  the  20th  received.  In  answer  to  your  in- 
quiry as  to  how  your  furnaces,  which  your  company  set  for  us  last  July,  are 
working,  I  desire  to  say  that  they  are  giving  perfect  satisfaction.  The  fur- 
nace is  a  fuel  saver  and  at  the  same  time  is  the  most  perfect  device  to  get 
away  with  smoke  that  I  have  ever  seen.  Respectfully  yours, 

R.  W.  BAKER, 
Supt.  Bee  Building1. 

OMAHA,  NEBRASKA,  Oct.  16th,  1894. 
To  WHOM  IT  MAY  CONCERN:  . 

Having  procured   copies   of  smoke  ordinances 

of  all  the  cities  of  the  United  States,  and  having  learned  of  the  efforts  made 
to  abate  the  smoke  nuisance  in  many  of  our  prominent  cities  while  attend- 
ing the  first  annual  meeting  of  the  National  Chiefs  of  Police  Union  at  St. 
Louis  last  May,  and  also  having  perused  and  made  comparisons  of  reports 
of  scientific  tests  of  all  so-called  smoke  consumers,  and  personally  examined 
a  large  number  of  smoke-consuming  devices,  I  cannot  but  say  that  in  my 
opinion  the  Reynolds  Smoke-Consuming  Furnaces  are  the  best  in  this  coun- 
try to-day.  I  have  seen  these  furnaces  in  operation  at  the  water-works  at 
Florence,  Nebraska,  very  frequently  during  the  last  five  years,  and  can  bear 
witness  to  the  fact  that  they  are  a  most  effectual  smoke-consuming  furnace 


12 

in  every  sense  of  the  term.  That  this  extensive  steam  plant  is  easily  sup- 
plied with  all  necessary  power  on  the  commonest,  dirtiest,  cheapest  slack, 
coal  that  can  be  procured,  and  that  not  a  dollar  has  been  expended  in  repairs 
to  fhe  furnaces  since  they  were  first  used  at  this  plant. 

The  Reynolds  brick  furnaces  are  natural  smoke-consumers  that  make 
the  necessary  steam  for  all  purposes  on  a  cheap  grade  of  coal  that  cannot  be 
used  in  ordinary  furnaces.  W.  S.  SEAVEY, 

Chief  of  Police. 

Clipping-  from  Sioux  City  (Iowa)  Journal,  Oct.  25,  1895,  headed   "A   Success- 
ful  Experiment": 

An  experiment  was  made  at  the  Main  street  pumping  station,  Wednes- 
day and  Wednesday  night,  which  proved  entirely  satisfactory.  The  Rey- 
nolds furnaces  recently  put  in  at  this  station  are  giving  constantly  increas- 
ing satisfaction.  The  economy  effected  in  fuel  saving  has  been  fully  as 
great  as  claimed,  and  the  boiler  inspector  estimates  that  their  use  adds  five 
years  to  the  life  of  a  boiler.  PHIL  CARLIN, 

Supt.  Sioux  City  Water-Works. 

A.  B.  HUNT,  Esq  .  ST.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  25,  1896. 

Bee  Building,  Omaha,  Neb. 

•Dear  Sir:  The  City  Hall  furnace  is  working  satisfactorily.  The  sub- 
contractors on  this  part  of  the  work  are  very  highly  pleased  with  it.  They 
say  that  after  it  is  thoroughly  heated  up  it  is  impossible  to  make  it  smoke, 
even  with  malice  aforethought.  I  hope  to  arrange  for  a  complete  test  of 
this  plant  in  the  near  future,  and  will  then  advise  you  further.  Have  writ- 
ten Captain  Reynolds  to  the  same  effect. 

I  enclose  one  of  our  circulars,  just  issued,  which  may  interest  you. 

Yours  truly, 

BRYAN  &  HUMPHREY, 

Consulting  Engineers. 
By  W.  H.  BRYAN. 

A   B.  HUNT,  Esq.,  OMAHAj  January  25?  1897. 

Omaha,  Neb. 

Dear  Sir:  In  r  ply  to  your  question  in  regard  to  how  we  are  pleased 
with  the  Reynolds  furnace,  would  say  we  have  had  our  boilers  with  this  fur- 
nace in  constant  use  for  about  four  years.  It  has  done  and  is  doing  more 
than  you  claimed  for  it,  and  is  a  fuel  saver.  We  are  very  much  pleased 
with  it.  Yours  truly, 

FRANK  MURPHY, 
President  Omaha  Gas  Mfg   Co. 

CITY  OF  SIOUX  CITY. 

C.  W.  FLETCHER, 

Mayor. 

Sioux  CITY,  Iowa,  August  16,  1895. 
WM.  H   BRYAN, 

.St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Dear  Sir:  Yours  of  the  13th  at  hand  and  contents  noted.  We  have 
been  using  the  Reynolds  Smokeless  Furnace  since  July  19th,  at  a  saving  of 
six  dollars  per  day,  and  the  smoke-consuming  device  is  perfect.  Formerly 
we  used  Walnut  Block  coal,  but  now  use  soft  slack  I  believe  it  to  be  a 
great  success  in  every  way.  Yours  very  truly.- 

C   W.  FLETCHER,  Mayor. 

WOODMAN 
LINSEED-OIL  WORKS. 

OMAHA,  NEB.,  6-29-'95. 
MR.  A.  B.  HUNT,  Care  Water-Works  Co.,  City. 

Dear  Sir:  Replying  to  your  inquiry  of  to-day,  will  say  that  the  Smoke- 
Consumer  put  in  by  you  two  weeks  ago  is  still  in  use  at  our  mill,  and  gives 
entire  satisfaction.  We  have  never  had  occasion  to  make  any  change  in  it 
since  your  workmen  left  the  job.  Yours  truly, 

F.  E.  RITCHIE,  Mgr. 


13 

OMAHA,  NKBR.,  Oct.  22,  1896. 
A.  B    HUNT,  Esq  ,  City. 

Dear  Sir:  In  reply  to  your  inquiry  of  21st  inst.  in  regard  to  Reynolds 
furnace,  will  say  that  we  have  had  our  boilers  with  this  furnace  in  constant 
use  for  three  (3)  years  without  having-  any  trouble  with  arches,  wall*,  or  any 
part  thereof.  We  therefore  consider  them  durable,  efficient,  and  a  perfect 
smoke  consumer.  Any  further  information  will  be  cheerfully  giveji 

We  remain,  yours  respectfully, 

(Signed)  OMAHA  BREWING  ASSOCIATION. 

P.  S. — We  intend  to  put  in  two  new  boilers  this  coming-  winter,  and  will 
put  in  the  Reynolds  furnace.  OMAHA  BREWING  ASSOCIATION. 

G.  Storz,  President 

OMAHA  STREET  RAILWAY 

COMPANY.  OMAHA,  NEB.,  January  23,  1897. 

To  A    B.  HUNT,  City. 

Dear  Sir:  In  answer  to  yours  reg-arding  the  Reynolds  Smoke  Con- 
sumer, we  have  only  the  best  words  possible  The  furnaces  set  in  our  power 
plant  are  doing-  splendid  service  Far  superior  to  anything-  we  have  ever 
used  in  any  way.  Respectfully, 

OMAHA  STREET  RAILWAY  CO. 
W   A   SMITH,  General  Manager. 

JANUARY  27,  1897. 
FRANK  REYNOLDS,  Omaha,  Neb. 

•  Dear  Sir:  In  answer  to  yours  of  this  date,  inquiring  as  to  how  we  like 
the  Reynolds  smoke-consuming  furnace  that  your  company  set  for  us  three 
years  ago,  have  this  to  say:  The  furnace  has  given  perfect  satisfaction  in 
every  respect  It  is  a  durable,  fuel-saving  device,  and  at  the  same  time  it  is 
a  perfect  smoke  consumer  Yours,  etc  , 

JOHN  B   RUTH, 
Manager  of  Standard  Oil  Company. 


ST.  LOUIS,  MO.,  SEPT.  26,  1894. 
A.  B.  HUNT,  ESQ, 

OMAHA,  NERR. 

Dear  Sir:  Agreeably  to  the  instructions  of  yourself  and 
your  associates,  I  recently  paid  two  visits  to  Omaha  and  Flor- 
ence, Nebr. ,  and  while  there  conducted  a  number  of  independent 
tests  of  the  Reynolds  Patent  Furnace,  as  applied  to  steam  boilers. 

The  furnaces  tested  were  both  located  at  the  pumping  sta- 
tions of  the  American  Water-Works  Company.  The  one  at 
Twentieth  and  Poppleton  avenue,  at  Omaha,  was  under  an  ordi- 
nary horizontal  tubular  boiler;  while  the  one  at  Florence,  Nebr., 
was  under  a  Reynolds  Patent  Vertical  Boiler. 

I  had  previously  expressed  my  instruments  and  apparatus, 
and  had  given  full  instructions  regarding  the  preparations  neces- 
sary. Immediately  on  my  arrival  at  the  plant,  I  looked  over  the 
work  and  saw  that  my  directions  had  been  complied  with. 
Scales  and  gauges  had  been  tested;  weighing  and  measuring 
tanks  had  been  connected;  flanges  blanked,  and  pipe  connections 
made,  so  that  the  boiler  to  be  tested  could  be  fed  independently. 
The  boiler  and  furnace  bad  been  cleaned  and  were  in  good  con- 
dition for  test. 


14 

THE   FURNACE. 

The  furnace  tested  is  the  invention  of  Captain  Frank  Rey- 
nolds, Chief  Engineer  of  the  Omaha  Water-Works  System,  and 
is  covered  by  patent  No.  486,167,  dated  November  I5th,  1892. 
It  belongs  to  the  class  known  as  "Fire-Brick  Arch  or  Checker 
Work  Furnaces,"  combined  with  the  hollow  walls  for  preheat- 
ing the  air.  The  fire-box  is  built  entirely  independent  of  and 
away  from  the  boiler  itself.  The  grates  may  be  of  any  good  pat- 
tern, but,  in  the  present  instance,  were  of  the  shaking  type. 
Immediately  after  leaving  the  grates,  the  gaseous  products  of 
combustion,  hi  passing  over  the  bridge  wall,  traverse  a  con- 
tracted opening  and  are  immediately  deflected  downward  by  a 
hanging  wall.  They  then  emerge  into  a  combustion-chamber  of 
liberal  dimensions,  the  exit  from  which  is  through  another  con- 
tracted throat  area,  or  a  checker  work  of  fire-brick;  from  this 
point  the  gases  take  the  usual  course,  through  the  boiler  tubes  to 
the  chimney. 

Recognizing  the  value  of  an  ample  supply  of  oxygen,  prop- 
erly distribiited  and  preheated,  the  inventor  has  made  use  of  the 
principle  of  hollow  side  walls.  Air  is  admitted  into  the  side 
walls  at  proper  points,  passing  through  channels  of  considerable 
height  but  limited  width.  These  channels  are  separated  from 
the  furnace  proper  by  only  the  linings  and  arches,  which  are 
always  of  high  temperature.  This  construction  not  only  ab- 
sorbs to  a  very  large  extent  the  heat  usually  lost  by  radiation, 
but  returns  it  to  the  furnace,  one  channel  discharging  immedi- 
ately over  the  fire  at  the  front  end  of  the  grate,  and  the  other 
immediately  behind  the  bridge  wall  at  the  entrance  to  the  com- 
bustion-chamber. 

On  March  8th,  1882,  a  special  committee  of  experts  and 
citizens  appointed  by  the  Mayor  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  made  a 
report  upon  the  problem  of  smoke  abatement,  which  is  undoubt- 
edly the  most  exhaustive  and  authoritative  review  of  the  subject 
that  has  ever  been  prepared  with  reference  to  the  smoky  coals  so 
common  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  After  reviewing  the  princi- 
ples of  combustion  and  the  various  causes  of  smoke,  the  report 
makes  this  statement: 

"In  view  of  the  facts  presented,  it  will  be  seen  that  for  the 
complete  combustion  of  Bituminous  coal,  including  the  separated 
carbon  which  forms  the  visible  smoke,  it  is  necessary  that  a  very 
high  temperature  be  constantly  maintained  in  the  fire-place  and 
that  the  air  introduced  for  the  combustion  of  the  gases  and  free 
carbon  above  the  fuel  bed  be  in  sufficient  quantity,  heated,  and 
intimately  mixed  with  the  gases.  It  will  also  appear  that  with 
the  fire-place  ordinarily  employed,  and  especially  when  the  fire 
is  worked  by  the  method  so  commonly  practiced,  the  conditions 
iust  mentioned  are  rarely  attained." 


15 

No  better  description  could  be  given  of  the  principles  upon 
which  the  Reynolds  furnace  depends  for  its  results,  and  we 
should  therefore  expect  the  most  satisfactory  performance. 

THE    BOILER. 

As  already  stated,  the  boiler  tested  at  Popple  ton  A  venue  is 
of  the  standard  horizontal  tubular  type,  and  does  not  differ  in 
any  way  from  the  approved  form.  The  fire-box,  however,  is  in- 
dependent of  the  boiler,  being  set  some  distance  in  front  of  it,  as 
required  by  the  Reynolds  setting.  The  processes  of  combustion 
are,  therefore,  in  no  way  impeded  by  the  presence  of  any  heat- 
absorbing  body,  such  as  the  boiler  itself,  whose  temperature  is 
always  much  lower  than  that  of  the  fire,  and  which  as  a  conse- 
quence usually  reduces  the  temperature  of  the  fire-box  much 
below  the  point  necessary  for  the  most  complete  combustion 
possible. 

The  boiler  at  Florence  is  of  the  Reynolds  Vertical  Type, 
built  by  the  Edward  P.  Alli.s  Company,  Milwaukee,  Wis.  It 
does  not  differ,  except  in  detail,  from  the  ordinary  vertical,  in- 
ternally fired  boiler,  so  common  in  very  small  plants.  It  is, 
however,  18  feet  high  over  all,  6'  external  diameter,  with  124- 
2  1/2"  tubes,  1 6  feet  long — only  13  feet  of  which,  however,  are 
available  as  heating  surfaces,  the  other  three'  feet  passing  through 
the  steam  space  of  the  boiler.  The  standard  form  of  construc- 
tion was  departed  from  in  this  case,  to  the  extent  of  cutting 
away  most  of  the  fire-box,  there  being  but  an  annular  ring,  2 
feet  high  and  5  feet  in  internal  diameter,  leaving  a  water  space 
of  6"  wide.  It  will  be  seen  that  this  construction  permits  of 
the  most  thorough  intermingling  of  the  heated  gases  with  the 
water,  and  that  the  steam  should  as  a  rule  be  superheated. 

The  boiler  rests  directly  upon  the  brick-work  of  the  furnace, 
immediately  above  the  last  fire  throat.  The  details  of  the  boiler 
are  admirably  worked  out,  particularly  the  construction  for 
admission  of  feed-water  and  the  location  of  the  tubes. 

THE   TESTS. 

The  first  series  of  tests  were  made  on  August  24,  25  and 
27 th,  1894.  Some  difficulty  was  found  in  getting  a  satisfactory 
capacity  out  of  the  Poppleton  Avenue  boiler,  and  an  examination 
of  the  furnace,  made  immediately  afterward',  showed  that  the 
calorimeter  areas  through  the  furnace  had  been  unduly  con- 
tracted— a  fault  due  to  the  ignorance  or  carelessness  of  the  brick- 
mason  who  did  the  work.  It  was  decided,  therefore,  to  put  the 
setting  in  proper  shape  and  make  the  test  over.  There  also 
appeared  to  be  some  doubt  as  to  the  accuracy  of  the  Florence 
results,  and  it  was  decided  to  take  advantage  of  the  opportunity 
and  repeat  that  test  also. 


16 

The  tests  were  conducted  in  close  accord  with  the  rules 
established  by  a  special  committee  of  the  American  Society  of 
Mechanical  Engineers,  in  1894,  which  rules  undoubtedly  repre- 
sent the  best  standard  of  practice. 

The  usual  fireman  handled  the  fires;  the  ordinary  slack  coal 
was  used,  and  the  boilers  were  operated  in  all  respects  the  same 
as  if  in  every-day  service,  except  that  for  the  purpose  of  the 
tests  they  were  pushed  somewhat  beyond  their  ordinary  working 
capacity.  The  furnaces  and  boilers  were  heated  before  the  test 
began,  at  which  time  the  water  level,  thickness  and  condition  of 
fire  bed,  steam  pressure,  etc.,  were  noted  on  the  logs  and  were 
brought  to  the  same  condition  at  the  close  of  the  test. 

Frequent  and  regular  observations  were  taken  and  noted  on 
the  logs,  covering  the  steam  pressures,  chimney  draft,  tempera- 
tures of  room,  chimney,  feed-water,  as  well  as  upon  the  Barrus 
calorimeter,  to  determine  the  character  of  the  steam  as  to  dry- 
ness.  Special  observers  looked  after  the  coal  and  water-logs; 
independent  tally  records  of  which  were  also  kept,  to  insure  a 
check  on  the  logs.  At  Poppleton  '  Avenue,  the  draft  was  meas- 
ured at  the  usual  place  in  the  breeching  connecting  the  boiler 
with  the  smoke-flue.  At  Florence  the  draft,  was  measured  some 
20  feet  above  the  level  of  the  grates.  The  draft  here  was  by  no 
means  good — due  probably  to  the  fact  that  the  same  chimney  is 
used  by  eight  other  boilers  of  the  same  size. 

FUEL. 

This  was  slack  from  the  Cherokee  (Kansas)  mines.  It  was, 
however,  of  excellent  quality,  as  is  shown  by  the  analysis;  evi- 
dently having  been  properly  handled  and  well  cared  for — in  fact 
it  is  quite  as  good  as  the  best  Illinois  lump  coal  coming  regularly 
to  the  St.  Louis  market.  At  Florence,  great  difficulty  was  found 
in  preventing  clinkers  in  the  coal  from  sticking  to  the  grates  and 
choking  the  fires.  On  one  occasion  this  rendered  an  abandon- 
ment of  the  test  necessary,  and  interfered  to  some  small  degree 
with  the  test  herein  reported,  as  no  doubt  the  capacity  would 
have  been  increased  had  not  the  grates  become  foul  the  last  half- 
hour.  To  avoid  this  as  much  as  possible,  a  small  amount  of  low- 
grade  Iowa  slack,  about  one-quarter  of  the  total  quantity,  was 
mixed  with  the  Kansas  coal. 

RESULTS. 

These  are  given  in  detail  in  the  accompanying  tabulated 
reports.  The  separate  features  may,  however,  be  discussed  inde- 
pendently. 

Smokr  Abatement.  As  this  is  perhaps  the  most  impor- 
tant feature  of  the  investigation,  it  deserves  first  consideration. 
Two  smoke  charts  were  taken,  each  of  an  hour's  duration,  and 


17 

under  different  conditions  of  service,  and  the  Tesnlts  were  wcrked 
up  by  means  of  the  planimeter.  On  the  occasion  of  the  first  test 
at  Poppleton  Avenue,  August  24th,  the  remarkably  low  average 
of  three-tenths  of  one  per  cent  of  smoke  for  the  eight  hours'  run 
was  secured.  This  is  a  most  excellent  showing,  considering  the 
fact  that  the  boiler  was  being  worked  beyond  its  rated  capacity, 
and  that  the  slack  coal  was  being  used;  in  fact,  there  was  no 
smoke  at  all  except  when  the  fires  became  dirty.  On  the  second 
run  at  Poppleton  Avenue,  August  27th,  an  effort  was  made  to 
push  the  boiler  to  secure  greater  capacity.  This  effort  did  not 
succeed,  however,  on  account  of  the  defects  in  construction,  ex- 
plained above,  but  the  effort  made  increased  the  smoke  to  an 
average  of  2.67  per  cent — a  quite  satisfactory  result  nevertheless. 
On  the  occasion  of  the  last  test,  reported  herewith,  there  was  a 
faint  blue  haze  issuing  from  the  chimney  all  day.  While  it  was 
clearly  noticeable  near  by,  it  could  not  have  been  seen  at  all  at 
any  considerable  distance,  and,  moreover,  was  not  of  an  offensive 
character  in  any  way.  This  faint  blue  haze  is  to  some  extent 
characteristic  of  the  Reynolds  furnace,  and.  in  my  opinion,  repre- 
sents the  most  unfavorable  result  that  will  be  secured  from  it 
when  properly  handled.  In  the  case  of  the  last  test,  it  was  no 
doubt  due  to  the  excessive  amount  of  moisture  in  the  fuel — over 
4  per  cent — and  the  crowding  of  the  fires.  The  first  test  at 
Florence  showed  an  average  of  2.79  per  cent — the  most  excellent 
result,  considering  the  fact  that  the  eight  boilers  were  connected 
with  the  same  chimney,  and  that  they  were  being  fired  irregu- 
larly, a  number  of  different  doors  frequently  being  open,  and 
green  coal  charged  at  the  same  time.  It  will  readily  be  seen 
that  if  each  independent  furnace  should  make  a  slight  cloud  of 
smoke  when  fired,  the  result  would  be  quite  a  perceptible  cloud 
when  the  firing  of  different  boilers  occurred  together.  In  no 
case,  however,  was  the  smoke  bad,  and  the  occasional  puffs  were 
never  black,  and  continued  but  a  few  seconds,  although  the  boiler 
under  test  was  being  crowded  much  beyond  its  nominal  capacity. 
On  the  last  test  at  Florence,  the  smoke  reached  an  average  of 
6.325  per  cent.  This  figure  is  still  quite  satisfactory.  The 
explanation  of  the  increase  over  the  previous  test  is  that  the 
boiler  under  test  was  being  fired  nearly  double  its  rating,  while 
the  other  furnaces  connected  to  the  same  chimney  were  being 
run  to  much  below  their  normal  capacity.  These  adverse  condi- 
tions existed  to  a  much  greater  degree  than  on  the  occasion  of 
the  previous  test.  Observation  of  this  and  other  chimneys  con- 
nected with  the  Reynold  furnaces  indicate  that  under  normal 
conditions  the  furnace  is  practically  smokeless.  No  smoke  was 
ever  made  when  fires  were  being  cleaned,  and  in  this  respect 
the  Reynolds  furnace  differs  radically  from  most  other  improved 
devices;  in  fact,  the  only  time  that  smoke  was  visible  at  all  was 
when  the  fires  were  carelessly  handled,  or  were  allowed  to  get 
dirty,  and  were  forced  considerably  beyond  their  usual  capacity. 


18 

This,  at  Poppleton  Avenue,  was  quite  good. 
Unfortunately,  it  was  not  possible  to  make  a  test  under  the  same 
conditions  with  a  similar  boiler  set  with  an  ordinary  furnace. 
No  direct  comparison  can  therefore  be  made  to  determine  the 
saving-  in  fuel  or  the  increase  in  efficiency  due  to  the  Reynolds 
setting.  I  have,  however,  taken  the  trouble  to  look  up  a  number 
of  very  carefully  made  tests  on  common  boilers,  which  show  an 
average  efficiency  of  52.33  per  cent.  These  were  all  made  on 
ordinary  horizontal  boilers,  but  under  varying  conditions,  so  that 
they  may  be  fairly  assumed  to  give  a  fair  average.  I  should  say 
that  the  figure  named,  however,  is  better  if  anything  than  the 
average  common  setting  will  give.  The  Poppleton  Avenue  effi- 
ciency of  56.64  shows  a  decided  improvement  over  the  average 
ordinary  setting;  and  when  it  is  remembered  that  slack  coal  is 
burned  and  that  the  temperatures  of  the  chimney  gases  were 
unusually  high,  that  the  boiler  was  being  forced  far  beyond  its 
rating,  and  as  a  consequence  primed  somewhat,  it  can  be  readily 
seen  that  imder  more  favorable  conditions  a  considerably  higher 
efficiency  would  be  secured. 

At  Florence  the  results  were  even  more  satisfactory,  the 
increased  efficiency,  however,  being  largely  due  to  the  improved 
form  of  boiler.  The  results  secured  compared  most  favorably 
with  that  of  other  types  of  boilers. 

fd-jMwitt/.  The  result  of  nearly  40  per  cent  above  the 
rating  of  the  Poppleton  Avenue  boiler  is  quite  satisfactory.  I 
am  satisfied  that  with  better  coal  this  could  readily  have  been 
increased  to  50  per  cent.  A  further  modification  of  the  construc- 
tion will  undoubtedly  permit  a  still  further  increase  of  capacity 
in  those  cases  where  this  feature  is  of  special  importance. 

At  Florence  the  capacity  developed  was  even  higher,  being 
81.47  Per  cent  above  the  boilers'  rating.  The  surprising  result 
is  shown  of  evaporating  over  4  pounds  of  water  from  and  at  212 
degrees  per  square  foot  heating  surface,  and  of  developing  and 
maintaining  a  horse  power  with  but  little  over  8  square  feet  in 
heating  surface,  with  a  boiler  composed  largely  of  2^."  tubes. 
Certainly  these  results  have  no  criticisms  as  to  lack  of  capacity 
f<3r  over-work  when  necessary,  although  my  investigation  indi- 
cates that  the  setting  should  be  constructed  originally  with  a 
view  of  the  work  expected  of  it. 

Safety.  In  this  respect  the  Reynolds  furnace  ranks  among 
the  best.  It  is  true  that  the  high  temperatures  which  necessa- 
rily accompany  all  intelligent  and  successful  efforts  at  smoke 
abatement,  and  which  are  perhaps  the  most  prominent  features 
of  the  Reynolds  furnace,  may  result  disastrously  if  the  plant  is 
carelessly  managed  and  the  heating  surfaces  allowed  to  become 
foul.  These,  however,  are  abnormal  conditions  which  may  be 
avoided  with  ordinary  intelligence  and  care,  and  are  not  to  be 
permitted  in  any  well-managed  plant. 


19 

The  furnace  proper  is  in  no  way  directly  connected  with  the 
boiler  proper,  and  there  is  no  pipe-work  under  pressure  and  no 
complicated  mechanism  of  any  nature;  in  fact,  the  improved 
results  following  from  clean  heating  surfaces — due  to  absence  of 
soot  and  the  uniform  temperatures,  due  to  the  use  of  arch  and 
checker  work — should  increase  the  safety  of  the  boiler  plants  as 
a  whole. 

Met/tod  of  Hamllhtij.  No  extraordinary  degree  of  skill 
is  required  to  secure  proper  results  from  the  Reynolds  furnace, 
although  skillful  and  intelligent  manipulation  of  the  fires  are  of 
value  here,  as  they  are  in  all  boiler  plants,  whether  of  the  ordi- 
nary or  of  any  improved  pattern.  Such  instructions  as  are  neces- 
sary can  be  given  the  ordinary  fireman  in  a  few  hours,  and  the 
results  will  then  depend  upon  his  faithfulness  and  care. 

Considerable  time  should  always  be  given  in  raising  steam, 
so  that  the  walls  may  be  heated  gradually  and  uniformly.  In  a 
short  time  the  brick-work  will  become  white-hot,  and  when  the 
gases  first  given  off  by  the  disintegrating  mass  of  coal  pass 
through  the  contracted  throats,  which  are  maintained  at  high 
temperature,  they  are  thoroughly  mixed  and  their  combustion 
effected  under  the  most  favorable  conditions.  This  is  of  course 
followed  by  some  slight  reduction  of  temperature  in  the  arches, 
which,  however,  is  immediately  regained  in  ample  time  to  be 
ready  for  the  next  firing. 

Repeated  observations  show  that  only,  rarely  were  the  gases 
passing  through  the  last  throat  colored  to  a  perceptible  degree, 
even  immediately  after  firing.  A  considerable  amount  of  heat 
is  thus  stored  in  the  brick-work  when  steam  is  first  raised,  which 
it  may  not  always  be  possible  to  realize  upon  fully  if  the  runs 
are  of  an  intermittent  character  and  of  short  duration.  Condi- 
tions for  high  efficiency  are,  therefore,  best  met  in  those  plants 
where  the  work  is  of  considerable  amount  and  practically  con- 
tinuous, although  occasional  fluctuations  of  the  work,  and  even 
total  interruptions  of  the  service,  would  not  seriously  affect  the 
results,  if  not  too  long-continued. 

For  convenience  of  attachment,  the  Reynolds  furnace  may 
be  open  to  some  criticism,  in  special  cases.  To  get  the  test 
results,  it  should  be  built  outside  of  the  boiler  proper  and  inde- 
pendent of  it.  It  is  unfortunately  too  often  the  case  that  the 
firing  space  in  the  boiler-room  is,  through  faulty  design,  so  con- 
tracted as  to  barely  leave  room  for  the  fireman  to  do  his  work 
and  store  a  limited  supply  of  coal.  In  such  cases  the  additional 
space  required  for  the  Reynolds  furnace  can  be  ill  spared,  if 
at  all. 

Captain  Reynolds  has  adapted  his  furnace  to  these  condi- 
tions also,  building  the  entire  construction  under  the  boiler 
proper,  and  thus  taking  up  no  more  space  than  the  ordinary  set- 
ting. Excellent  results  arc  said  to  be  secured,  although  hardly 


20 

as  good  as  from  the  standard  type.  The  advantages  of  conduct- 
ing the  processes  of  combustion  independent  of  and  apart  from 
the  relatively  cold  heating  surfaces  of  the  boiler  are  so  many 
and  of  such  value  that  a  strong  effort  should  always  be  made 
to  secure  this  type  of  construction,  even  if  it  necessitates  a  sacri- 
fice in  some  other  direction. 

An  ordinary  boiler  can  be  changed  to  the  Reynolds  setting 
in  a  week's  time — even  less,. if  absolutely  necessary. 

J)ttrfibiliti/.  In  this  respect  the  Reynolds  furnace  far  sur- 
passes any  construction  of  this  type  which  I  have  ever  had  occa- 
sion to  examine.  An  inspection  of  the  working  drawings  from 
which  the  furnaces  ars  built  will  convince  the  most  skeptical 
that  the  brick-work  is  of  the  most  substantial  and  lasting  char- 
acter. The  brick-work  carries  nothing  but  its  own  weight,  and 
is  of  ample  thickness.  The  air  spaces  undoubtedly  add  to  the 
life  of  the  brick-work  by  carrying  away  the  heat.  In  the  con- 
tracted throat  area,  where  the  temperatures  probably  range  be- 
tween three  and  four  thousand  degrees  Fahrenheit,  the  arches 
are  constructed  of  fire-brick  of  the  most  refractory  character, 
so  designed  and  supported  as  to  appear  almost  indestructible. 
Investigations  into  the  actual  life  of  the  furnace  show  that  the 
anticipations  of  the  designer  had  been  fully  realized.  The 
repairs  in  the  course  of  five  years  have  been  unimportant  in 
amount  and  of  only  nominal  cost. 

(1ost.  Where  new  boilers  are  being  set,  the  cost  is  con- 
fined to  that  of  the1  necessary  brick-work  and  the  special  fire 
fronts,  neither  of  which  greatly  exceeds  the  cost  of  the  ordinary 
setting.  Even  when  a  reasonable  royalty  and  the  cost  of  plants 
and  superintendence  are  added  to  the  cost,  this  furnace  should 
still  compare  favorably  with  any  form  of  boiler  setting  approach- 
ing it  in  merit.  The  results  obtained  from  my  tests  indicate  that 
the  increased  fuel  efficiency  will  pay  a  good  interest  on  the  cost 
of  the  work,  besides  the  great  advantages  due  to  the  compara- 
tively smokeless  chimney  and  ample  boiler  capacity. 

Attempts  at  the  solution  of  the  smoke  problem  in  the  same 
general  manner  as  is  covered  by  Captain  Reynolds'  plans  have 
frequently  been  made,  but  I  do  not  know  of  a  case  where  the 
principles  underlying  their  operation  have  been  so  carefully 
worked  out  in  practice.  The  most  serious  objections  that  have 
heretofore  been  urged  against  furnaces  of  this  type  have  been 
their  lack  of  durability  and  their  limited  capacity  for  over-work. 
Both  of  these  criticisms  seem  to  have  been  successfully  and  satis- 
factorily answered  in  the  two  plants  which  I  have  just  tested. 

Although  the  results  secured  are  high,  an  inspection  of  the 
records  indicates  that  the  fires  could  have  been  handled  to  even 
better  advantage.  The  ash  analysis  shows  that  there  was  con- 
siderable unburned  fuel  in  the  refuse  weighed  back  as  ash  at  the 
end  of  the  test .  Furthermore,  the  steam  at  Florence  was  super- 


21 

heated.  Each  of  these  features  involved  some  consumption  of 
fuel  for  which  the  plant  received  no  credit  in  evaporation  of 
water. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  efficiency  of  the  Florence  pump- 
ing plant  as  a  whole.  Assuming  that  the  large  Allis  Pumping 
Engine  is  developing  a  horse  power  with  12  pounds  of  water  per 
hour  (a  figure  probably  above  the  true  state  of  affairs),  you  are 
maintaining  one  horse  power  with  a  consumption  of  less  than 
two  pounds  of  slack  coal  per  hour — a  result  I  do  not  believe  is 
reached,  certainly  not  exceeded,  by  any  of  the  steam  plants  in 
the  Mississippi  Valley,  if  indeed  it  is  equaled  anywrhere,  with 
fuel  of  this  character.  Respectfully  submitted. 

WM.  H.  BRYAN, 

Consulting  Enofineer. 


RESULTS  OF  TESTS 

MADE  BY  WILLIAM  H.  BRYAN,  CONSULTING  ENGINEER,  ST. 
LOUIS,  MISSOURI,  OF  THE  REYNOLDS  PATENT  FURNACE,  AT 
POPPLETON  AVENUE  PUMPING  STATION,  OMAHA,  NEB.,  TO 
DETERMINE  ITS  SMOKELESSNESS,  EFFICIENCY  AND  CAPACITY. 


Number  of  Designation  of  Test One 

Date 1894,  September  i5th 

Duration ' Hours,  8 

Number  of  Boilers  in  operation  under  test One 

Kind  of  Boiler Horizontal  Tubular 

DIMENSIONS   AND    PROPORTIONS. 

Dimensions  of  shell,  diameter  and  length 66"xi8  ft. 

Number  and  length  of  4"  tubes 56    xi8  ft. 

Grate   surface  5  ft.  wide  5'  long,  area,    sq.  ft    .25 

Water  heating   surface,  sq.  ft .  .1276.5 

Superheating  surface,  sq.  ft None 

Ratio  of  grate  surface  to  water  heating  surface,  i  to 51.06 

Mean  opening  of  damper  (percentage  of  full  opening) ....  TOO 
Chimney  dimensions,  height  and  diameter I5i'x6' 

AVERAGE    PRESSURES. 

State  of  weather Clear 

Atmosphere  as  per   Barometer,  inches 28.96 

Steam  in  boiler  by  gauge,  pounds. 1 13.3 

Steam  in  boiler,  absolute,  pounds 128.0 

Force  of  draught,  inches  of  water 70 


22 

AVERAGE    TEMPERATURES. 

Of  external  air DeK-  P.  73-8 

Of  boiler-room "     "  78.9 

Of  escaping  gases  entering  chimney "      "  671.57 

Of  feed-water  entering  boiler "      u  157.38 

Of  steam  in  boiler "     "  346. 

FUEL. 

Kind  of  coal Cherokee  slack 

Cost  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds,  delivered $1.90 

Calorific  power  by  calorimeter,  British  Thermal  Units, 

per  ponnd 1 1353. 

Theoretical  evaporative  power,  from  and  at  212  deg.  F. 

in  pounds  of  water,  per  ponnd  coal 1 1.74 

Total  quantity  consumed Ibs.  .  .    6120. 

Total  ash,  clinkers,  and  nnbnrned  coal Ibs.  .  .      919. 

Proportion  of  ash,  etc.,  to  coal 15  per  cent 

Unburned  coal  in  ash Ibs .  .  .      229. 

True  ash Ibs  .  .  .      690. 

Total  combustible  burned Ibs ...    5201. 

Mean  thickness  of  fire inches.  .  .          3.5 

RATE    OF   COMBUSTION. 

Coal,  per  hour Ibs    .  .  765. 

Combustible,  per  hour Ibs ...  650. 

Coal,  per  sq.  ft.  grate  surface  per  hour Ibs.  .  .  30.6 

Combustible,  per  sq.  ft.  grate  surface  per  hour.  ..Ibs.  .  .  26. 

Coal,  per  sq.  ft.  heating  surface  per  hour Ibs.  .  .  -599 

Combustible,  per  sq.  ft.  heating  surface  per  hour.lbs.  .  .  -5°9 

CALORIMETERIC    TESTS. 

Quality  of  the  steam  (dry-steam  100) 98.85 

Amount  of  water  entrained  in  the  steam per  cwt  1.15 

Amount  of  superheating Deg.   F.  None 

WATER. 

Amount  apparently  evaporated Ibs.      37466. 

Amount   actually   evaporated,  corrected .  for  quality 

of  steam Ibs.      37040. 

Factor  of  evaporation i  .0992 

Equivalent  evaporation  into  dry  steam   from  and  at 

212  degrees  F 407 1 4. 

ECONOMIC    EVAPORATION. 

Per  pound  of  coal: 

Water  evaporated Ibs.  6.05 

Equivalent  from  and  at  212  deg.  F Ibs.  6.65 

Per  pound  of  combustible : 

Water  actually  evaporated Ibs.  7.12 

Equivalent  from  and  at  212  deg.  F Ibs.  7-^3 


23 

EVAPORATION    PER    HOUR. 

Water  actually  evaporated Ibs.  4630. 

Equivalent  from  and  at  212  deg.  F .Ibs.  5089. 

Per  square  foot  heating  surface: 

Water  actually  evaporated Ibs.  3-63 

Equivalent  from  and  at  212  deg.  F Ibs.  3-99 

Per  square  foot  grate  surface : 

Water  actually  evaporated Ibs.  185.20 

Equivalent  from  and  at  212  deg.  F    Ibs.  203.57 

EFFICIENCY. 

Percentage  of  total  calorific  power  utilized,  of  effi- 
ciency  per  cent  56.64 

Water  evaporated  for  $1.00  worth  of  fuel Ibs,  6370. 

Cost  of  evaporating  1,000  Ibs.  of  water cents  15.7 

HORSE    POWER. 

Actually  developed  on  basis  of  34  */  Ibs  water  evapo- 
rated per  hour  from  and  at  212  deg.  F.,  H.  P  .  147.52 

Commercial  rating,  at  12  sq.  ft.  heating  surface  H.  P.  106.38 

Proportion  capacity  developed  as  of  commercial  ra- 
ting.   .per  cent  138.67 

Heating  surface  required  to  develop  one  horse 

power sq.  ft.  8.62 

Coal  consumed  per  horse  power  per  hour Ibs.  5. 19 

SMOKE   RECORD. 

Mean  smoke  production on  a  scale  of  100  5-1 

ANALYSIS   (AVERAGE). 

(  'ofll 

Moisture per  cent  4.36 

Volatile  matter 28. 35 

Fixed  carbon 47-53 

Sulphur 4-68 

Ash...                   .- i5-°8 


100.00 


Moisture  ............................  <  ...................  -46 

Volatile  matter  ................  ...........................  5-34 

Fixed    carbon  ............................................  *9-  3° 

Ash...                       .......................................  74-9° 


24 

RESULTS  OF   TESTS. 

MADE  £Y  WILLIAM  H.  BRYAN,  CONSULTING  ENGINEER,  ST. 
LOUIS,  MISSOURI,  OF  THE  REYNOLDS  PATENT  FURNACE, 
AT  FLORENCE  (NEBRASKA)  PUMPING  STATION,  TO  DETER- 
MINE ITS  SMOKELESSNESS,  EFFICIENCY  AND  CAPACITY. 


Number  or  other  Designation  of  Test TW(  > 

Date 1894,  vSeptember  U>th 

Duration Hours  cS.05 

Number  of  boilers  in  operation  under  test ONE 

Kind'  af  boiler. Reynolds  Vertical 

DIMENSIONS   AND    PROPORTIONS. 

Dimensions  of  shell,  diamond  and  length 72"xlS  ft. 

Number  and  length  of  2l/2"  tubes 124  16 

Grate  surface  5  ft    wide  4  ft   long-,  area,  square  feet 20 

Water-heating  surface,  square  feet 1101  35 

Superheating-  surface,  square  feet 243  30 

Ratio  of  grate  surface  to  water-heating-  surface.  1  to 55  07 

Mean.opening-  of  damper  (percentag-e  of  full  opening) 100 

Chimney  dimensions,  height  and  diameter 122''x8' 

AVERAGE    PRESSURES. 

State  of  weather CLOUDY 

Atiuosphere,  as  per  barometer inches  28.90 

Steam  in  boiler,  b j  gauge Ibs .  110 . 4 

Steam  in  boiler,  absolute Ibs.  125.1 

Force  of  draught   inches  of  water  .  40 

AVERAGE    TEMPERATURES 

Of  external  air -Deg.  F.  68.63 

Of  boiler-room Deg.  F.  84.12 

Of  escaping-  gases  entering  chimney Deg.  F.  565.85 

Of  feed-water  entering  boiler Deg.  F.  140.61 

Of  steam  in  boiler Deg.  F.  344.20 

FUEL. 

Kind  of  coal Kansas  and  Iowa  slack  mixed 

Cost  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds,  delivered $1.80 

Calorific  power  by  calorimeter,  British  thermal  units,  per  Ib.  .  10900. 
Theoretical  evaporative  power,  from  and  at  212  deg.  F.  in  Ibs. 

of  water,  per  Ib    coal 11 . 27 

Total  quantity  consumed Ibs.  4835. 

Total  ash,  clinkers,  and  unburned  coal .Ibs.  947. 

Proportion  of  ash,  &c.,  to  coal 19.6  per  cent 

Unburned  coal  in  ash Ibs.  98. 

True  ash Ibs.  849. 

T6tal  combustible  burned Ibs .  3888. 

Mean  thickness  of  fire inches  3. 

RATE    OF    COMBUSTION. 

Coal,  per  hour Ibs.  600.62 

Combustible,  per  hour Ibs.  483.00 

Coa1,  per  sq.  ft.  grate  surface  per  hour Ibs.  30.03 

Combustible,  per  sq.  ft.  grate  surface  per   hour Ibs.  24.15 

Coal,  per  sq.  ft.  heating  surface  per  hour Ibs.  .545 

Combustible,  per  sq.  ft.  heating  surface  per  hour .Ibs.  .438 


25 

CALORIMETERIC   TESTS. 

Quality  of  the  steam  (dry-steam  100) 100. 

Amount  of  water  entrained  in  steam per  cent  NONE 

Amount  of  superheating- Deg.  F.  .81 

WATER. 

Amount  apparently  evaporated Ibs.  33126. 

Amount  actually  evaporated  (corrected  for  quality  of  steam) 

pounds 33126. 

Factor  of  evaporation     1 . 117 

Equivalent  evaporation  into  dry -steam  from  and  at  212  deg. 

F.,  pounds 37002. 

ECONOMIC    EVAPORATION. 

PKK  POUND  COAL : 

Water  actually  evaporated Ibs.  6.85 

Equivalent  from  and  at  212  deg.  F Ibs.  7.65 

PKK  POUND  COMBUSTIBLE  : 

Water  actually  evaporated Ibs.  8.52 

Equivalent  from  and  at  212  deg.  F Ibs.  9.52 

EVAPORATION    PER   HOUR. 

Water  actually  evaporated Ibs.  4115. 

Equivalent  from   and  at  212  deg.  F Ibs.  4596. 

PER  SOUARE  FOOT  HEATING  SURFACE  : 

Water  actualh-  evaporated Ibs .  3 . 47 

Equivalent  from  and  at  212  deg.  F Ibs.  4.17 

PER  SOUARE  FOOT  GRATE  SURFACE: 

Water  actually  evaporated Ibs.  205.75 

Equivalent  from  and  at  212  deg.  F Ibs.  229.82 

EFFICIENCY. 

Percentage  of  total  calorific  power  utilized,  or  efficiency 67.89  per  cent 

Water  evaporated  for  $1.00  worth  of  coal Ibs  7610. 

Cost  of  evaporating  1,000  pounds  of  water. 13.1  cent 

HORSE   POWER. 

Actually  developed  on  basis  of  34j4  pounds  water  evaporated 

per  hour  from  and  at  212  deg.  F.,  H.  P 133.25 

Commercial  rating  at  15  sq.  ft.  heating  surface,  H.  P 73.42 

Proportion  capacity  developed  as  of  commercial  rating 181.47  per  cent 

Heating  surface  required  to  develop  one  horse  power,  sq.  ft.  . 

Coal  consumed  per  horse  power  per  hour Ibs.  4.51 

SMOKE    RECORD. 

Mean  smoke  production On  a  scale  of  100  6.325 

ANALYSIS   (AVERAGE). 

Coal  -  ..... 

Moisture 4.83  per  cent 

Volatile  matter 26.28 

Fixed  carbon 45 . 49 

Sulphur 5.48 

Ash 17.92 

100.00 
.  U//'.s — 

Moisture -50 

Volatile  matter 2.44 

Fixed  carbon.  : 7.86 

Ash...                              89.20 


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TJ 

320   Bryan  - 

B84s  Scientific 

tests  of 

the  Reynolds    smoke 
con sitming  brick 
furnaces. 


TJ 

320 

B84s 


